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N0. 6|0,27l. Patented Sept. 6, 1898.

L. J. HUNTER & w. F. PETERS. STATION INDICATOR.

(Application filed Jan. 25, 1897.) (N 0 M 0 d e I j 2 'Sheets-Sheet I.

Inventors Witnesses w N0. 6I0,27I. Patented Sept. 6, I898.

L. J. HUNTER & W. F. PETERS.

STATION INDICATOR. (Application filed Tan. 25, 1897.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Trice.

LYTLE J. HUNTER, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, AND 'IVILLIAM F. PETERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO; SAID PETERS ASSIGNOR TO SAID HUNTER.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,271, dated September 6, 1898. Application filed January 25, 1897. Serial No. 620,560- (No model.)

is to furnish a cheap, economical, serviceable,

accurate, and efficient machine for indicating the stations to be successively arrived at by the vehicle or those stations which are considered of the most importance on the line of its route. Our invention is also economical of construction.

One of the prominent features of our invention has for its object the provision of mechanism whereby the names of stations can be brought into View quickly and with very little effort either of mechanical strength or of attention on the part of the operator.

The several features of our invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate correspond ing part-s, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the compartment or chamber which carries the strip or curtain which displays the name of the station to the public and which may also carry the mechanism for enabling the operator to directly'operate the machine and move the curtain or display-strip. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same, the top of the frame having been removed in order to present for inspection the interior of the compartment. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the combined mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the compartment in Fig. 3 being shown upside down. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken at the line 4 4 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that and 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism whereby the operator is enabled to move the display or indicating strip and to set the same to display anygiven station. Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of the handle and its immediate connections shown in Fig; 6. Fig. 8, Sheet 2, represents an elevation of the front endof a car, the dash of the said car being omitted, the said figure showing ourinvention applied to the said car. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the means forlengthening the pulley-band to a greater degree than the adjustable device in connection with the runner hereinafter described affords.

We will now proceed to describe our invention. a

A indicates a box or compartment having a top B and frontO, provided with openings 0 occupying nearly the entire portion of the front.

D indicates the rear wall of the compartment, and E E the respective ends thereof, while F indicates the bottom of the compartment. d j

G is the display or station-indicator strip, on which the names of the stations to be in dicated are successively marked. The theoretical name illustrative of the marking is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of the title Fifth Street, Central; Ave. 85 Lick Rum but any other name or names may be marked on the indicating-strip in proper sequence. The strip G is connected at one end to the spring-roller H and at the other end to a roller 1. The spring-roller is actuated by a suitable spring, conferring upon it a tendency to always elastically rotate in a given direction and constantly wind the display-strip upon it. on the other hand roller I is connected with devices positively and directly operated by the motorman, conductor, or the operator in charge of the station-indicating device.

In order to wind the indicating-stripupon roller I, the opposing resilient force residing in roller I-I must be overcome. Oneof the functions of spring-roller His to always keep the indicating-strip G perfectly taut at the front of the compartment where the name of the station or stations is indicated. For convenienoe in enabling these rollers II and I to i the left-hand end of the same in Figs. 1, 2, i

best accomplish their functions we place them somewhat to the rear of the front of the compartment and there locate two idlers, respectively marked J and K, idler-rollerJ being at the upper front part of the box and idlerroller Kat the lower front part. When desired, one or both of these idler-rollers may be omitted, the adjacent roller H or I being advanced to take its place; but, as before remarked, the presence of the idler-rollers enables us to more readily carry out the objects of our invention.

The shafts of the rollers Hand I are at each end respectively journaled in the adjacent ends of the compartment or any suitable journal-bearings connected with the frame. On the shaft of the roller I at one end of the latter is fixed a pinion I concentric there with. On a shaft L is located a gear-wheel M, and this shaft L is preferably fixed, the gear-wheel M turning loosely thereon. The gear-wheel M moves with the pinion 1 Fixed to the pinion M in case where the shaft L is fixed is a drum N, to which is fastened one end of apulley-band P, preferably round in cross-section. The front end of this pulley-band is connected either directly or through the intervention of proper connections with the device to be directly operated by the operator in setting the indicator to display the name of the desired station. This setting device will now be described, and it consists as follows: A supporting-rail Q is present, and this rail has upon it certain lugs or stops Q Each lug is as far apart from its succeeding lug as are relatively the names of the stations on the indicating-strip; but in consequence of the fact that the gear-wheel M is a certain number of times larger in diameter than the pinion I the distance to be traveled between the successive lugs Q is as much proportionately less than the distance between the names of the stations on the indicating-strip as the size of th ewheel M differs from the size of the pinion 1 We are thus enabled to bring the setting device within very compact limits as to size. On this rail Q we locate a runner R, whose sleeve R embraces the rail Q. The eyes or sleeves R are open at one point-to wit, R -the opening beingsufficient to allow them to pass the lugs Q when the runner R is placed in a given position in relation to the said lugs. In the present illustrative instance this position is horizontal, as shown in Fig. 7. The

runner R is provided with a handle R so as to enable it (the runner) to be easily manipulated by the operator.

Provision for increasing or shortening the length of the pulley-band P, passing the runner R and pulley N, is preferably made by the means of the screw-bolt S, carrying adj ustin g-nut S this bolt S passing through the runner and being secured by the nut S on the opposite side of the runner from where is the pulley-band P. The pulley-band P may be fastened to eye S of the bolt or otherwise secured thereto. This device S S enables the runner to always be in a correct position relative to the names of the indicating-strip, so that in case the material of which the indicating-strip is made should lengthen 0r shorten through the agency of heat or cold or the strain brought upon the same through the stretching process to which it is subjected by means of the spring-roller H the setting device S S will enable the runner to be set in a correct position relative to the strip and its indicating-names. This setting device S S also enables p rovision to be made for taking up any lengthening of the pulley-band P should the same occur.

In case certain of the stations are to be altogether omitted a number of stations not already in use, but each and all indicated on the same indicating-strip, then the pulleyband may belengthened or shortened as much as desired and far beyond the capacity of the device S S for such purpose by the following means, (shown in Fig. 9,) to wit: The pulleyband may be provided with a link or links T, connected to each other or to the pulley-band by suitable hooks and eyes T One or more of these links may be removed or supplied in order to carry out the design of this portion of our invention.

The location of the device for setting the stations is not to be confined to the box or compartment A, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; but such device is to be located wherever it is most convenient for easy operation by the one having the indicator in charge. Thus in Fig. 8 the setting device Q Q R R R is located on the side of the car at quite a distance from the chamber or compartment A, the rail Q being attached by proper supports to the side of the car. It will be understood that the lugs Q on the rail Q will ordinarily be accompanied by some character or name indicative of the station named upon the indicating-strip, which will be exhibited when the device R is set in connection with that particular lug Q In order that the indicator may be used at night, we propose to illuminate the space behind theindicating-strip, so that thelight may pass through the strip, the strip and the letters being so arranged as to enable the light to accomplish such results. A preferred in ode of illuminating the indicating-strip and one which isof our invention consists of the elongated mirror U. This mirrorU consists, practically, of two faces or portions beginning near the rear of the box and at the mid-length thereof extending outward and forward toward the respective front corners of the chamber, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, a single light W, preferably of an electric kind,

being located in front of the junction of the two faces of the mirror U, substantially as shown.

It will be understood that the pulley-band P is carried out of the box and in any desired direction to reach the setting device R Q Q and in many instances a suitable idler-pulley P will be present,substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and t. In order to insure perfect accuracy in the movement of the indicating-strip, we form in the periphery of the drum N a spiralor screw-like groove N which prevents the pulley-band from wrapping upon itself when wound upon the pulley or drum N. Such wrapping of the pulley-band upon itself would obviously operate to increase the diameter of the pulley improperly.

We will now describe in general the mode in which our invention operates. The operator seizes hold of the handle R and draws the same to the right, (see Fig. 6,) holding the runner R horizontal, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to enable the runner to pass a given lug Q Then the runner has passed the proper lug for enabling the device to be set so as to make the corresponding and desired stationname displayed, he turns the runner either down or up, preferably down, andthereby prevents the runner from slipping by said lug Q which it would do unless so turned, on account of the fact that it is continually elastically drawn toward the left through the agency of the spring-roller H of the compartment A. When another and subsequent sta tion is to be displayed on the indicator, the operator repeats the operation with the runner R in the same manner hereinbefore described, bringing the runner to the proper lug Q and stopping the runner there. When the end of the route for this strip has been reached, the operator lifts the handle R to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 7, and he allows the roller H to operate, which latter thereby draws the runner to the left and unwinds the indicating strip off from the roller I and onto itself, (roller H.) These operations are successively repeated as desired. What we claim as new and of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. In an indicatordevice, a strip G,a springroller H, and a roller I combined with the said strip, and a setting device consisting of the rail Q having lugs Q and a runner R having sleeves R bent at a given point for enabling the runner to pass the lugs when the runner is held in a given position and means substantially as described for enabling the runner to rotate the indicator mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes specifled.

. 2. In an indicator device, a strip G, a springroller H, and a roller I .combined with the said strip, and a setting device consisting of the rail Q having lugs Q and a runner R having sleeves R bent at a given point for enabling the runner to pass the lugs when the runner is held in a given position, and a pulley band P connected to the indicator mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a station-indicating device, the com bination of the chamber having the springroller H and the roller I, and the indicatingstrip G having its ends respectively connected to said rollers, and the roller I being provided with pinion I and a gear-wheel M for enlarging the diameter, and turning with the pulley N, provided with a pulley strap or band P, in combination with a suitable device for moving the pulley-band and stopping the same at a given point, the stopping device being located outside of the frame D, and in connection with the handle worked by the operator, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a station-indicating device, the combination of the chamber having the springroller H and the roller I, and the indicatingstrip G having its ends respectively connected to said rollers, and the roller I being provided with pinion I and a gear-wheel M for enlarging the diameter, and turning with the pulley N, provided with a pulley strap or band P, in combination with a suitable device for moving the pulley-band and stopping the same at a given point, a setting device consisting of a runner R, R R operating on a rail provided with lugs Q substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a station-indicating device, the combination of the chamber having the springroller H and the roller I, and the indicatingstrip G having its ends respectively connected to said rollers, and the roller I being provided with pinion I and a gear-wheel M for enlarging the diameter, and turning with the pulley N, provided with a pulley strap or band P, in combination with a suitable device for moving the pulley-band and stopping the same at a given point, a setting device consisting of a runner R, R R operating on a rail provided with lugs Q the runner being provided with a setting device consisting of the screw S and the nut S substantially as .and for the purposes specified.

6. In a station-indicating device, the combination of the chamber having the springroller H and the roller 1, and the indicatingstrip G having its ends respectively connected to said rollers, and the roller I being provided with pinion 1 and a gear-wheel M for enlarging the diameter, and turning with the pulley N, provided with a pulley strap or band P, in combination with a suitable device for moving the pulley-band and stopping the same at a given point, a setting device consisting of a runner R, R R operating on a rail provided with lugs Q the runner being provided with a setting device consisting of the screw S and the nut S the pulleyband being provided with link or-links T connected together by hooks and eyes, substan- -IIO 

